How Ahimsa Can Help You Find Balance in a Fast-Paced World
by Michelle Mansfield, CYT
The Pace of Modern Life
You’ve probably noticed how life seems to move faster these days. The clock has become your constant companion—an ever-present reminder of what’s next. You wake up already thinking ahead: the commute, the errands, the texts to return, the next appointment.
Even the moments meant for rest are often filled with planning what’s to come. Somewhere along the way, slowing down became a luxury instead of a necessity.
Yoga, in its truest form, invites us to resist that rush. Yet even on the mat—the one place meant for grounding—you might find yourself glancing at the clock or mentally checking off your day. Maybe you’ve slipped out before Savasana “just this once,” or felt restless in longer classes. You’re not alone. We live in a culture that celebrates doing, achieving, and producing—but rarely honors being.
And this is where the wisdom of Ahimsa comes in.
The Forgotten Art of Savoring
There was a time when yoga classes were naturally longer—ninety minutes, sometimes two hours. You would step onto your mat and know that, for that span of time, the world could wait. There was room to arrive fully, to breathe deeply, to truly savor.
Today, even a 60-minute class can feel like a stretch. Some days you might barely make it onto your mat before rushing back out the door. Other days, you’ve given so much of your attention and care to everyone else that there’s little left for you.
That’s why this practice of savoring—of slowing down long enough to feel what’s happening—is an act of self-compassion. It’s not indulgent; it’s essential. To honor yourself enough to pause is to live Ahimsa in action.
“When you pause to breathe, you practice kindness toward yourself.”
Ahimsa: More Than Nonviolence
Ahimsa is the first of the Yamas on yoga’s eight-fold path. It’s often translated as nonviolence, but its meaning reaches far beyond the physical. Ahimsa asks us to consider the subtle ways we treat ourselves and others through our thoughts, words, and habits.
You might not think of rushing as a form of harm—but when you constantly push, deny yourself rest, or ignore what your body or heart is telling you, you move away from Ahimsa.
Nonviolence toward yourself means offering:
Gentleness to your body when it’s tired.
Patience to your mind when it wanders.
Understanding when life feels like too much.
When you embody Ahimsa, you create space—for breath, compassion, and presence.
The Breadth of the Practice
That’s exactly what Sarah Lindgren invites you to rediscover in her upcoming workshop,
Breadth of the Practice: Embody Ahimsa
Saturday, October 25 | 12–2 PM
at Prana Yoga Center.
This isn’t just another class—it’s an opportunity to step out of the race against time and into the rhythm of your own being. For two nourishing hours, you’ll explore yoga as it was meant to be experienced: intentionally, unhurriedly, and with reverence for every layer of your practice.
Sarah’s teaching has a warmth and spaciousness that encourages expansion beyond the surface. You’ll have time to settle into your body, feel your breath deepen, and move through a thoughtfully designed all-levels sequence that honors where you are—physically, mentally, and emotionally.
“When you stop doing yoga and begin living it, Ahimsa unfolds naturally.”
What You Can Expect
This immersive workshop offers more than movement—it’s a journey back to the heart of your practice:
🧘♀️ A deeper understanding of Ahimsa
Reflect on what it truly means to live with nonviolence, both in how you act and how you speak to yourself.
🧘♀️ Mindfully designed, all-levels sequence
Whether new or experienced, you’ll be guided through a practice that gently deepens awareness and balance.
🧘♀️ Optional hands-on assists
Receive tactile feedback that encourages grounding and alignment—always offered with care and consent.
🧘♀️ Extended breathwork practice
Experience pranayama techniques that calm the mind, expand the lungs, and reconnect you with your life force.
🧘♀️ Guided meditation + extended Savasana
Linger in stillness as your body integrates, your mind softens, and your heart opens.
Reclaiming the Ritual
When you give yourself time, you remember that yoga is not another task on your to-do list—it’s a ritual of return.
–To your breath.
–To your center.
–To what truly matters.
Think about the way you move through your day: how often do you transition from one thing to the next without truly arriving? This workshop gives you the space to arrive—and to remember that slowing down isn’t falling behind. It’s catching up to yourself.
“When you linger in stillness, you’re not being idle—you’re coming home.”
A Practice of Compassion in Motion
Ahimsa isn’t about perfection. It’s not always soft or serene. Sometimes it’s fierce compassion—the voice that reminds you to step away from what drains you. Other times it’s quiet acceptance—the whisper that says, “It’s okay to rest.”
On your mat, Ahimsa might look like backing off a pose when your body says no—or staying longer when your mind urges you to move on. It’s how you speak to yourself in those moments that defines the practice.
When you embody Ahimsa, yoga becomes less about performance and more about presence. It becomes a mirror—reflecting how you live, love, and care for yourself.
Join Us: Embody Ahimsa with Sarah Lindgren
Take this as your sign to pause—to trade the rush for reverence.
Join Sarah Lindgren for “Breadth of the Practice: Embody Ahimsa” on Saturday, October 25, 12–2 PM at Prana Yoga Center in St. Charles, IL.
Give yourself the gift of time. Step onto your mat not to do more—but to be more. You’ll walk away feeling lighter, softer, and more connected—to yourself, your practice, and the quiet strength that lives within you.